Enfield

Enfield FC is a non-league football club representing the borough of the same name in North London. The original club was formed in 1893 before liquidating after the 2006-07 season, before immediately reforming to maintain a proud history following the actions of former owner Tony Lazarou.

Enfield, formed by John Bruce Skinner, started out life as Enfield Spartans, playing their first season playing friendlies before becoming members of the Tottenham & District Junior Alliance.

A move to Tuckers Field saw progression to the North Middlesex League in 1896. The Spartans moniker was dropped from their title as Enfield became champions of the competition in 1901-02 and 1902-03.

The club moved to Cherry Orchard Lane in 1903 when they joined Division Two of the London League. The title was won along with promotion to the Premier Division in 1910-11 prior to ‘The E’s’ became founder members of the Athenian League in 1912-13. The first of many liftings of the Middlesex Senior Cup came a year later.

Enfield spend a season in the Middlesex & London League after World War One before returning to the Athenian League in 1921-22, of which the side ended as runners-up in 1934-35 as well as reaching the semi-final of the Amateur Cup where Wimbledon won the tie.

The club moved into a newly built ground at Southbury Road in 1936 before reaching the first round of the FA Cup for the second time in 1937-38, going out at Bristol City. Jack Rawlings and Len West were awarded England amateur international caps following World War Two.

The side reached the last four of the Amateur Cup in 1946-47, losing to Leytonstone before Hendon ended dreams of Wembley in 1959-60 at the same stage while prolific scorer Tommy Lawrence also represented England at amateur level.

In 1959-60 the E’s defeated Headington United before losing to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic in the FA Cup before the Athenian League title was won in 1960-61 and 1961-62. Another second round Cup appearance came in 1962-63 where Peterborough United ended the run.

Enfield finally reached Wembley in 1963-64, going down 2-1 to Crook Town in the final of the Amateur Cup after keeper Malcolm Mitchell broke his arm and had to be replaced by winger Roy Thomas while 7the club became members of the Isthmian League. The move would propel the E’s into a golden era after they ended as league runners-up in 1964-65.

Further FA Cup second round appearances ensued in the same season and again in 1966-67 when Watford won at Southbury Road. However, that feat would be surpassed as Enfield finally won the Amateur Cup with a 3-0 replay win against Skelmersdale United at Maine Road after the first game at Wembley ended blank.

Midfielder Ray Hill scored twice with John Connell scoring the other goal. The success continued as the club were crowned as Isthmian League champions in 1967-68, before the title was retained in 1968-69 and 1969-70 to complete a hattrick of triumphs.

The double was completed on the final of those wins as Enfield lifted the Amateur Cup as Dagenham were thrashed 5-1 at Wembley as Connell netted twice along with strikes from Peter Feely and Joe Adams along with an opponent’s own goal.

The 1971-72 campaign saw Peterborough United end another FA Cup run in the second round as the team also ended as league runners-up and reached the Amateur Cup final one last time, where Hendon proved too strong at Wembley.

A further second place came in 1974-75 before the Isthmian League title was won for a fourth time in 1975-76 as Enfield also reached the semi-final of the FA Trophy, losing to Scarborough. The following season saw Crystal Palace defeat the E’s in the second round of the FA Cup as Tony Jennings starred in defence.

The 1976-77 season also saw the league title stay at Southbury Road, before the team made it three in a row twelve months later. After a season’s hiatus, Enfield won their seventh title in 1979-80 after Eddie McCluskey had taken over as manager.

A runners-up place in 1980-81 also saw the clubs best ever FA Cup run. Hereford United and Port Vale had been defeated before the E’s drew away to Barnsley in the fourth round, which ended in a 1-1 draw as Peter Burton netted the equaliser.

The replay was played at Tottenham’s White Hart Lane stadium in front of over 40,000 fans with Barnsley going through 3-0. At the end of the season Enfield were invited to join the Alliance Premier League.

In their debut season, Enfield ended as runners-up while Wimbledon were another league scalp in the FA Cup before Crystal Palace won 3-2 in the third round tie at Southbury Road. The E’s also lifted the FA Trophy with as a Paul Taylor goal beat Altrincham 1-0.

The 1982-83 season saw Enfield win the Alliance Premier League before the 1984-85 campaign offered knockout interest, with the team reaching the second round of the FA Cup with a win against Exeter City before falling to Millwall, while Wealdstone ended the FA Trophy run in the semi-finals.

Altrincham ended hopes of a Wembley return in the Trophy semi-final in 1985-86, but the E’s went on to lift the league title, sadly a year before automatic promotion was introduced to the Football League.

The housing occupying the old site of the Southbury Road ground

The vintage Enfield side included several players who had also enjoyed previous success, including the likes of Keith Barrett, Dave Howell, goalkeeper Andy Pape, midfielder Nicky Ironton and forwards Noel Ashford and Carl Richards starring for the side.

Further second round FA Cup appearances came in 1986-87 against Swindon Town and 1988-89 when Cardiff City ended the run. In between of this the FA Trophy was won for a second time in 1987-88. Telford United were beaten 3-2 in a replay at the Hawthorns after the first game ended 0-0.

McCluskey moved upstairs to be replaced briefly by Mike Ferguson and then Ted Hardy before he returned to the hot seat as Enfield went down to the Isthmian League in 1989-90. Star striker Paul Furlong helped the team to a runners-up spot in 1990-91 before he was sold.

London estate agent Tony Lazarou took over as chairman, as further second places followed in 1991-92 when the side went out in the second round of the FA Cup to Barnet, and 1993-94, a season in which Enfield also reached the semi-final of the FA Trophy, going out to Woking.

E's fans hold a vigil outside their much missed Southbury Road home

Enfield won their eighth Isthmian League title in 1994-95 but were denied promotion due to financial concerns from the authorities. Leading scorer Gary Abbott helped the team on an FA Cup run past Cardiff City and Torquay United before they went down 2-0 at Filbert Street to Leicester City a year later as the E’s also ended as league runners-up.

Lazarou had taken in Saracens RFC at Southbury Road for the 1996-97 season as the E’s went out in the second round of the FA Cup against Woking with the same second placed league finish. In 1997-98 Peterborough United knocked Enfield out of the Cup in round two.

In 1998-99 Enfield made their final appearance in the first round of the FA Cup, going out in a replay away to York City. Southbury Road had been neglected for many years which gave Lazarou the perfect excuse to sell the ground to property developers alongside the club debts.

The stadium was sold for just £750,000 with the money being put into an escrow account for the building of a new ground. The E’s went off groundsharing, initially with St Albans City and then Ware before settling to share with Boreham Wood, ten miles away.

Fans show who they hold responsible for the loss of Southbury Road

A set of fans had set up a Supporters Trust as they feared the club would not return to Enfield. They hoped to get involved in the running of the club and assist in finding a way home, but they were rebuffed continually by Lazarou.

In February 2001 it looked a deal may have been struck to transfer the club into the hands of the trust, but Lazarou stalled on it. Later that year he demanded the money from the sale of Southbury Road from Enfield Council who was looking after it, even though he hadn’t identified a site for a new ground. Lazarou threatened legal action and he got his way.

Soon after this a group of supporters decided that enough was enough and broke away to form their own club, Enfield Town FC, sharing the home of Brimsdown Rovers in the Borough of Enfield.

Enfield meanwhile were relegated in 2002-03 before going down from Division One North in 2003-04 before moving back to Wodson Park, Ware as a new committee was installed. Lazarou departed but owed Enfield FC a great amount of money from the sale of the old ground.

Goffs Lane, Broxbourne

The E’s finished as Division Two runners-up in 2004-05 before transferring to the Eastern Division of the Southern League for one season before returning to Division One North of the Isthmian League in 2006-07, finishing in thirteenth place.

The club decided to reform as Enfield 1893, to rid themselves of debt, which meant having to drop down a league from the Isthmian to the Essex Senior League. The E’s ended as runners-up in 2007-08 and 2008-09.

The club had hoped to secure the use of the upgraded Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, just a heavy clearance away from their old Southbury Road home, but rivals Enfield Town received permission to move in.

This meant The E’s sharing Goff’s Lane with Broxbourne V&E for the 2009-10 season. In May 2010 an agreement was met with Brimsdown Rovers FC to amalgamate, but to keep Enfield’s name.

Goldsdown Road, Brimsdown

The club played at Brimsdown’s Goldsdown Road stadium with the players, coaches and management from both clubs working together. This arrangement suited both parties. Rovers were concerned at their loss in finances after Town moved out after the 2010-11 season and the E’s wanted to play in the Borough of Enfield.

There was of course another option. Both Enfield FC and Enfield Town could amalgamate so that the supporters, who once stood on the terracing together supporting the same club, can do so once again.

This eventuality looked less likely after Town removed the stands that they'd installed at Brimsdown, leaving Enfield to erect new facilities. The club thought that this had been achieved and they celebrated winning the 2010-11 Essex League title thinking that promotion had been secured.

Unfortunately, the FA ground graders deemed the work carried out was insufficient and denied The E's Isthmian League football. Work at Brimsdown continued regardless. Enfield enjoyed a decent spell under the stewardship of George Boateng until he departed in 2013 to be replaced by the young Eton Manor boss Luke Giddings.

Woodside Park, Bishop's Stortford

Giddings led the side into third place in the 2013-14 season but then resigned owing to work commitments to be replaced by his assistant Paul Norris. Meanwhile the club moved to play home games at Harlow Town's home of Burrows Farm on the latest artificial turf before Norris departed in August 2014.

Matt Hanning was appointed as manager in 2016, leading the team to a much improved ninth place in 2017-18. Enfield dropped 1893 from their title for the 2019-20 season as the club moved to share Woodside Park with Bishop's Stortford FC.

The veteran prolific league goalscorer Jamie Cureton took over as player-manager in September 2020 in another season disrupted badly by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Enfield FC will play in the Essex Senior League in the 2020-21 season.

 

My visits

Enfield 4 Scarborough 2 (Saturday 20th March 1982) FA Trophy Round Four (att: 1,437)

I travelled down to this big game in Boro's season on one of the supporters coaches. It had already been a remarkable season between the clubs. Early in the season Scarborough had travelled to Southbury Road and won 4-1. In the return at the Athletic Ground, the E's won by the same scoreline!

There was quite a big turnout from North Yorkshire, including a mini bus that had set off when the night clubs kicked out the previous evening. I was coming to an age where I enjoyed standing with the singers at the ground although I was still a bit wary as some had a poor reputation at away matches in the cup. They were rapidly running out of coach companies to transport them.

Boro came from one down to equalise with a penalty from the mercurial Colin Williams from the penalty spot. At half time the two sets of fans swapped ends. As we passed an Enfield fan walloped my future landlord in an unprovoked attack to set of a huge scuffle.

Enfield ran away with the game despite a consolation from Ian Smith. They went on to lift the trophy later in the season at Wembley.

On the way home the lads amongst us had a treat at the services. England ladies hockey team had been playing at Wembley that afternoon and the coach park was full of vehicles carrying schoolgirls. In our teen ways we had some nice company for forty minutes.

Enfield 3 Dagenham 0 (Tuesday 20th September 1983) Alliance Premier League

I'd decided that studying Land Surveying and Cartography in the London commuter town of Boreham Wood was a better option than signing on and being pressured. It was near Wembley and the bright lights of the capital.

Naturally as a football mad youth I looked for cheap entertainment. I found a bus from near my digs that went straight outside Southbury Road, so I chose this London derby. I can't remember too much about the game, but Southbury Road was just as I remembered. It was a lovely traditional football ground.

The Main Stand dominated the scene. It was a raised structure containing the changing rooms and clubhouse underneath, with a large seating deck. There was an open terrace in front of it that continued to the corner flag one way, but gave way to the Starlite night club on the other side. 

The rest of the ground consisted of sloping shale banks with a few steps on the far side. All three sides had basic covers in the centre. Four huge professional type corner floodlight pylons stood over the ground. It had a smashing programme hut with friendly blokes running it.

Enfield 2 Wealdstone 2 after extra time (Tuesday 22nd November 1983) FA Cup Round One Replay (att: 1,286)

It was a freezing night as I ventured to Enfield on the 107 bus from Stirling Corner. The match had been postponed a few times owing to an unfit pitch with, with nearly a month passing from the first game which ended 1-1 at Lower Mead. 

We were treated to a feisty affair, but on and off the pitch under the lights. The Stones had a decent sized following with them. It was quickly obvious that the fans didn't really get on. Some of the anti sematic chanting from the Wealdstone fans was completely new to me, and got the expected reaction from the home fans. 

It is generally perceived that Enfield, like big boy neighbours Tottenham Hotspur have a large amount number of Jewish supporters among their following. The game ebbed and flowed and went to extra time. The pitch was rock hard by the end and neither side could be separated. 

Wealdstone's goals were scored by Mark Graves and from the spot by Dennis Byatt before sporadic fights broke out outside the ground after the game. I was most careful as I crossed the footbridge to await my bus home.

I attended the replay at Lower Mead a couple of weeks later which Wealdstone won 2-0.

Enfield 0 Scarborough 1 (Saturday 28th January 1987) Football Conference (att: 739) 

I travelled down in a car with future BBC correspondent Howard Nurse, Paul Frain and Gary Griffiths. It was freezing cold when we left Scarborough station and it didn't change all day. The news was of plenty of games being postponed owing to frozen pitches. It was FA Cup third round day. We looked for a Plan B in case our game was called off.

We arrived and parked up by Southbury station mid morning. My travelling companions went into the centre of London while I decided to visit a couple of non league grounds, Cheshunt and Haringey Borough. 

I also walked round to White Hart Lane to get a programme from Spurs game that afternoon against Scunthorpe United. I got to The Southbury pub in time for a pint before crossing the road ready for the match.

Boro raced into a lead after just four minutes through Stewart Mell and never looked like giving it up. It was a typical performance from a Neil Warnock side that season. Boro went on a staggering twenty two match winning run that season, including a record sixteen consecutive away games without defeat. 

The team didn't score lots but an opponents goal was a rarity. Barry Fry was at the game with his Barnet team who were chasing Boro in the title race. They cleared off ten minutes from the end knowing that Boro were not about to drop any points. 

Southbury Road was as it had always been, save for the changing rooms moving further along the Main Stand, with the clubhouse being extended as a result.

Many thanks to Pete Coath, an Enfield fan for the use of the Southbury Road images in the club history section, apart from the one of the Main Stand from inside the stadium. Much appreciated Pete.

Also many thanks to Andy Dakin for the three photos in the match reports section. Again, greatly appreciated.